The changes will mean that from April, no more councillors will be able to join the scheme. Those who have already joined will cease to receive contributions from the next time they face re–election.

Today's changes were announced in 2012 by Brandon Lewis, the local government minister, who told MPs at the time that councillors should not be entitled to pensions because it encouraged people to become full–time politicians.

Mr Lewis said: "Ministers in this government take a fundamentally different view to the last administration. We do not believe that taxpayer–funded pensions are justified. Councillors are volunteers undertaking public service: they are not and should not be employees of the council dependent on the municipal payroll.

"They are not professional, full–time politicians, nor should they be encouraged to become so."

The local government pension scheme is one of the most generous in the country, offering perks including the so–called "rule of 85", under which a member can retire on a full pension if their age and years of service add up to 85. The rule allows many long–serving staff to retire in their fifties.

Unlike councillors, MPs will still be entitled to gold–plated pensions, although planned changes will make their scheme less generous.